Objective: To assess the association of three polymorphisms (14-bpINS/DEL, +3035C/T and +3142C/G) in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of HLA-G gene and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Yunnan.
Methods: A case-control study has been carried out on 206 SLE patients and 212 healthy controls. Genotypes of 14-bpINS/DEL (rs1704), +3035C/T (rs17179108) and +3142C/G (rs1063320) loci of 3'UTR of the HLA-G gene were determined with DNA sequencing.
Results: Allelic and genotypic frequencies of 14-bpINS/DEL and +3142C/G did not differ significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05). The frequencies of +3035T allele was significantly higher in the SLE group compared with the control group (P < 0.01, OR=1.604, 95% CI: 1.186-2.169). With a dominant inheritance model, the odd ratio of dominant genotype (CT+TT) was 2.004 (95% CI: 1.345-2.987, P=0.0006) in the SLE group.
Conclusion: The 14-bpINS/DEL and +3142C/G polymorphisms in the 3'UTR of the HLA-G gene are not associated with susceptibility to SLE in Yunnan, whilst the T allele of +3035C/T may be a risk factor for SLE.